WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 8/4/2014

As WWE SummerSlam approaches, the WWE Superstar Power Rankings are still very much in flux. But this week, like last, does have one constant: WWE World Heavyweight champion John Cena. OK, so a few others didn't move either. But you get the idea.

We also saw Randy Orton go berserk, learned that it's still a bad idea to call AJ Lee crazy and much more. We'll get into all that and then some in the following slides. Before we do, though, please read how these rankings work.

Holding a championship, being a No. 1 contender or holding a Money in the Bank briefcase counts for much of a wrestler's ranking, and they are therefore the most heavily weighted components in these rankings. If a wrestler is tied with another wrestler, holding a title will be a tiebreaker.

Wins and losses account for the bulk of the week-to-week movement—wins and losses are, after championships, the most important component of the rankings. The quality of a wrestler's opponents and whether they are ranked is considered in the week-to-week movement.

"Getting the better" of someone—like beating someone down—as well as "getting got" also counts, though not as much as wins and losses. Being "over" with the fans is considered but not heavily weighted in the ranking decisions. Pay-per-view performances take on added importance.

Only the top 10 wrestlers are ranked. Wrestlers on the Watch List were considered for top-10 status but were ultimately nixed. They are unranked, and their listing is in no particular order.

Generally speaking,these rankings do not break kayfabe, though any major non-storyline information (serious injury, WWE Wellness Policy violations, legitimate hirings, firings, contract information, "sabbaticals," etc.) may be taken into consideration, especially if WWE confirms them publicly. Nothing that could be explicitly considered a spoiler is included, unless WWE acknowledges it as well.

All WWE shows, televised or digitally distributed, as well as anything from WWE.com, the WWE App, the WWE Network and any WWE or Superstar social media accounts that don't break kayfabe may be taken into consideration for these rankings.

Watch List

Rusev just hasn't been as dominant as he was just a few short weeks ago. After getting a count-out win over Jack Swagger at Battleground, he's been on the defensive. And this week, he was in zero matches and was run off by Swagger on Raw. He needs to get back to basics, meaning he needs to crush more opponents.

Chris Jericho

Jericho got a big win on SmackDown that will surely help his chances at SummerSlam. He defeated Erick Rowan, meaning Rowan would be barred from ringside when Chris Jericho and Bray Wyatt face each other later this month. Now if he can do the same thing for Luke Harper...

Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose had a mixed week, winning one match via disqualification over Alberto Del Rio on Main Event after Seth Rollins attacked him. He drove off Rollins and attacked Del Rio after. On SmackDown, he was in a handicap match against Kane and Seth Rollins. He hit Kane over the head with a chair and got DQed but still managed to run Rollins off.

Can Ambrose build some momentum by winning matches running up to SummerSlam?

Adam Rose

Bo Dallas' streak may be over, but Adam Rose has matched Dallas' undefeated streak. He's 17-0, and though he's got a much lower profile than Bo Dallas, he's put together a lot of wins. Can he and the Rosebuds party all the way to SummerSlam?

9. The Miz

The Miz's Intercontinental Championship reign has gotten off to a bumpy start. This week was not great for him, either. Miz lost his only match when he teamed with RybAxel in a loss to Dolph Ziggler and The Usos.

On SmackDown, he again cost Dolph Ziggler a match after distracting him, but that was about as good as things got. Miz, it appears, will be feuding with Ziggler going into SummerSlam. Can Miz establish himself as a solid champion, or will he keep losing matches?

8. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar did not appear this week on WWE television, which is no surprise. But it's still disappointing not to see him. Heyman, therefore, will serve as a surrogate for Lesnar when Lesnar is absent.

Paul Heyman had all kinds of things to say to John Cena on Raw, but the gist of it was that Cena would lose at SummerSlam. Cena, though, matched and perhaps even outperformed Paul Heyman on the microphone this week.

Few if any can trade verbal jabs with Heyman, but Cena did just that. Heyman and Lesnar now have to back up their words. Will that happen before SummerSlam?

7. AJ Lee

AJ Lee has a real problem on her hands. Paige is a gifted wrestler who has already beaten AJ in a title match. AJ has also beaten Paige in a title match. SummerSlam will be the rubber match. And Paige may just be good enough to take the title from AJ again.

AJ got the better of Paige on Raw, but on SmackDown, after beating Rosa Mendes, AJ was assaulted by Paige and had to be taken out of the arena on a stretcher. Paige is a serious threat to AJ's Divas Championship. But AJ, though you should never say this to her face, just might be crazy enough to throw off Paige and retain the title.

6. Randy Orton

Randy Orton lost it this week. He is fed up with Triple H, Kane and Roman Reigns. And though he's apparently still due a rematch for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Triple H told him he'd have to take care of Reigns first.

Boy, did he ever. As Reigns headed to the ring, Orton attacked him. And while it appeared Reigns might escape, Kane chokeslammed Reigns, and Orton went to work. He systematically dismantled Reigns, to the point where we haven't seen Reigns since this past Monday.

On SmackDown, Orton challenged Reigns to a match at SummerSlam. Will Orton be able to overcome Reigns? And how will Reigns respond to Orton this week?

4. The Usos

The Usos continue their dominance in tag team action. This past week, they teamed with Dolph Ziggler on Raw and scored a victory over RybAxel and The Miz. Then on Main Event, they defeated RybAxel in a traditional tag team match.

If they keep up this pace, there won't be anyone to face them at SummerSlam. Well, maybe Slater and the Gator...

2. Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins gains the No. 2 spot back this week more because of Roman Reign's beating than any other reason. Rollins' week was mixed at best.

On Raw, he attacked Chris Jericho, setting up a match. He technically lost to Jericho when the Wyatts attacked him. Then on Main Event, he attacked Dean Ambrose during his match with Alberto Del Rio but was driven off.

On SmackDown, he got a DQ win over Dean Ambrose in a Handicap match where he teamed with Kane. He won only because Ambrose smashed a chair over Kane's head. Rollins fled the scene.

He's got the Money in the Bank briefcase, so any time Cena appears is a possible title opportunity. But Rollins has thus far been thwarted to the point where it looks as though he'll settle in and patiently wait. What will he do if Lesnar wins the title?

1. John Cena

John Cena is still at the top of the rankings this week after impressive performances both on the microphone and in the ring. On Raw, he delivered a rare promo where he was completely serious; it rivaled the one Paul Heyman was delivering to him at the same time.

But then Cesaro joined the fray, and to make a long story short, a match ensued between Cesaro and Cena. It was a good match, with both Superstars showcasing their in-ring acumen. In the end, Cena was able to pin Cesaro, but Cesaro held his own. There could be a future feud here.

Cena didn't have to worry about Lesnar, as he was not there. But Cena better keep an eye out, because one beating by Lesnar could seriously hurt his chances at SummerSlam.